A New Hero

by Kampeska on Jan 23, 2011 10:32 AM PST

Watching Joel run down court is painful. His legs stiff and slow don't inspire much confidence. Late in the third Joel comes in for Donte and the lady next to me says she doesn't like that move. But for the next bunch possessions Joel, by inspired defensive play and sheer will of purpose put the Trailblazers in a position to win the game. He would not allow the Pacers to score. Wow. He was taking hits, (he didn't want to get up from one...but did and ran down court) defending the pick and roll, and stopping their bigs in their tracks. He was the turning point in the game. Its was his defense. It was heroic.

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praise our beloved hundred-dolla-billa!

by williamswonder on Jan 23, 2011 10:46 AM PST reply actions

Joel is the ultimate "blue collar" center.

He is not flashy and he rarely fills up the stat line (other than rebounds) and there are nights where nobody should pass him the ball on offense – period. But on rebounding and defense Joel always gives 125% and nobody on this team can bring a hard foul like the thrilla. If your a Blazer fan and you don’t love Joel for who he is and what he brings to the game then you need to get your head right.

I don’t Joel is ever capable of “sandbagging”. I think there is something in Joel’s nature that makes him “bring it” every time he is in the game.

I <3 JOEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LaMONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by LaMarvelous on Jan 23, 2011 11:17 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Joel really stepped it up last night.

He’s about as tough as they come.

by vanceanthony on Jan 23, 2011 11:42 AM PST reply actions

My brother who is a new to Blazer fan...just moved from Chicago..

said that “Joel has gotten better DURING THIS GAME!”

by Natsthecat on Jan 23, 2011 12:59 PM PST up reply actions

I can't imagine where we'd be right now without Joel.

Gotta love Joel for being out there and giving it all he has.

by IloveourLA on Jan 23, 2011 12:16 PM PST reply actions

Joel's screens and picks create scores

I was just saying yesterday that I wish there was a stat for pics or screens that lead to a score. A new assist style category. Joel would be likely to lead the NBA in that stat, adjusted for minutes.

by Matthews vs Roy... Fight! on Jan 23, 2011 12:34 PM PST reply actions

I can't remember who it was,

but someone on another team’s blog referred to him as “the king of the moving pick.”

\\oo///
<
\__/

by NCBlazerfan on Jan 23, 2011 7:17 PM PST up reply actions

Kevin Garnett

Is a legend in the annals of moving picks. Never seen anyone do it as consistently.

by Sound_Automatic on Jan 24, 2011 5:33 PM PST up reply actions

I was the opposite of that lady

I was yelling at the TV for Nate to get Joel in there to guard Hibbert. We needed a bigger man than Dante in the game at that time.

by TallTimber on Jan 23, 2011 12:44 PM PST reply actions

Well, during the first quarter he looked TERRIBLE. So I don’t blame Nate for taking a while to put him back in. But I do think he’s been looking a whole lot better lately, and I hope he stays on that trajectory. The other day I saw a full 12 inches, possibly more, between him and the ground on one play.

by Section323 on Jan 23, 2011 12:50 PM PST reply actions

12 inches of space under his feet??? Really??? I obviously wasn't looking when I should have.

The hazards of not being a touch typist….sigh

LaMONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by LaMarvelous on Jan 23, 2011 2:31 PM PST up reply actions

new??

by Falcao on Jan 23, 2011 2:43 PM PST reply actions 4 recs

Joel??

by Falcao on Jan 23, 2011 2:44 PM PST up reply actions

See, people have been doubting his word.

I don’t even doubt the other guys that are hurt, when they say they’re ready to play, usually.

But when JP told us quote, I feel fine, end quote, that was enough for me… Again, I don’t watch many games, and didn’t hear the Pacers game. I’m just saying it would surprise me if this wasn’t a sign of things to come.

by jiminut on Jan 23, 2011 7:14 PM PST via mobile reply actions

Agree

Joel, since he first signed on with the Blazers in the greatest depths of their awfulness to help get them out, has been an inspirational player to me. He’s a guy that has continue to play to the maximum of his capabilities.

I dread seeing him traded. I get that it might be a shrewd business move but to me, he’s been the bulwark of Blazerdom for many years now and I’d hate to see him go. I want him to retire as a Blazer.

Buck Williams for the hall of fame

by Phizbin on Jan 23, 2011 8:50 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

he could be traded and then resigned

with Camby’s status up in the air I don’t expect this right away, but if Joel keeps showing improvement he could be dealt at the deadline and then resigned by the Blazers following the lockout. Przy wants to stay in Portland, according to his friends in the area. The Blazers will just need to make him a fair offer when the time comes

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jan 23, 2011 9:36 PM PST up reply actions

problem is, if we trade him away, no bird rights

So we’d have to use the BAE or part of the MLE.

You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.

by austinpwnz on Jan 24, 2011 3:22 PM PST up reply actions

or whatever exceptions the league allows, after the new CBA

I would prefer Portland not deal Joel next month, but if they do it’s not like he’s automatically gone for good

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jan 24, 2011 7:18 PM PST up reply actions

JP is a great blazer

by collectiveshane on Jan 23, 2011 10:35 PM PST reply actions

best center in the league bar none

dammit. that’s all I gotta say.

Goldman Sachs is the # 1 donor to $enator Evan Bayh, who serves on the $enate committee that overseas the Treasury Department. In a totally unrelated coincidence, after the Government enacted a bailout program that funnels huge amounts of taxpayer $$$$ to Goldman Sachs, this is what happened: Goldman Sachs earned $1.81 billion, or $3.39 a share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. Goldman Sachs shares, which have surged more than 70% during the past month, continued rising late Monday, gaining about 4.7% for the day.

Nobody even tries to hide this any longer. The only way they could make it more blatant is if they hung a huge Goldman Sachs logo on the Capitol dome and then branded it onto the foreheads of leading members of Congress and executive branch officials.

by vavoom on Jan 24, 2011 11:43 AM PST reply actions